Charles Manson Gal Released From Prison...

 

By EDUARDO PAZ-MARTINEZ

McALLEN, Texas | She was a teen-age star in the killing psychodrama later known as Helter Skelter, a murderous spree in L.A. led by drug-fueled Charles Manson back in the halcyon hippie days of the 1960s. She, in this case, is Leslie Van Houten, the first-ever Manson woman to taste freedom after decades in prison. Van Houten's release was okayed on Tuesday, days after California Gov. Gavin Newsom declined to oppose the parole.

Miss Van Houten, shown in photo above, was 19 years old in 1969 (she is now 73), when she participated in the brutal, bloody murder of largely-unknown Los Angeles grocery store owner Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary. Prosecutors used graphic photos from the killing scene that showed the victims had been repeatedly knifed and bludgeoned to death, the walls of their home splattered with blood.

The Manson clan went on to also kill and butcher actress Sharon Tate and well-known hair products mogul Jay Sebring at her Los Angeles home. Tate was 8 months pregnant at the time. Her husband, who was not home during the attack, was the film director Roman Polanski.

Van Houten, however, wasn't charged in connection with the Tate murder.

She was convicted on charges of aiding in the killing of the LaBiancas and was sentenced to be executed. California, however, did not have a Death Penalty, so she got Life in prison.

Her story and that of fellow Manson cult followers Tex Watson, Patricia Krenwinkel, Linda Kasabian and Susan Adkins was told by then Los Angeles District Attorney Vincent Bugliosi, whose book (published in 1974) on the case and the Manson murders was titled "Helter Skelter" - the title of a song by The Beatles released in 1968.

Manson, shown in photo above at right, later said he liked the song because it had messages in the lyrics that only he could hear. The Beatles later disavowed Manson's comments about the song.

Where Van Houten would head after walking out of prison was unknown. She was born and raised in the Los Angeles area and likely still has relatives there.

Charles "Tex" Watson, from Dallas, remains in prison in San Diego. He is 77 years old.

Patricia Krenwinkel is still in prison. She is 75.

Linda Kasabian died this past January 21 at the age of 73.

Susan Adkins died September 24, 2009 at age 61.

Reaction from the LaBianca family came swiftly: "My family and I are heartbroken because we’re once again reminded of all the years that we have not had my father and my stepmother with us," LaBianca’s daughter, Cory LaBianca, told the Associated Press. "My children and my grandchildren never got an opportunity to get to know either of them, which has been a huge void for my family."

Charles Manson died in prison in 2017 of natural causes, after spending the greater portion of his life - half a century - incarcerated.

Manson was 83.

He never expressed remorse...

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